Charles Shyer obit

Oscar Nominated Writer/Director Charles Shyer Dies; ‘Private Benjamin’, ‘Father Of The Bride’ Filmmaker Was 83

 He was not on the list.

Oscar nominated screenwriter, director, and producer Charles Shyer whose films include Private Benjamin, Baby Boom, and the 1991 remake of Father Of The Bride and its 1995 sequel Father Of The Bride II died Friday. No cause of death was given. He was 83.

The Meyers-Shyer family shared this statement with Deadline: “It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him.”

Shyer’s Oscar nomination, as well as a WGA awards win, came for the original screenplay for 1980’s comedy hit, Private Benjamin starring Goldie Hawn which he co-wrote with Nancy Meyers and Harvey Miller. His next few projects would see him teamed with Meyers, not only professionally but also personally as they married in 1990 and would go on to co-write Irreconcilable Differences starring Ryan O’Neal, Shelley Long and Drew Barrymore, Baby Boom starring Diane Keaton, Father Of The Bride I and II with Steve Martin and Keaton, and 1994’s I Love Trouble starring Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts. All of the latter films were directed by Shyer as the couple would become one of the most prolific teamings for comedy in the business up until their divorce in 1999 shortly after writing and producing the 1998 successful remake of Disney’s The Parent Trap which starred a young Lindsay Lohan in the roles of twins trying to bring their parents back together. Meyers took the directing reins on that one, and after their divorce in 1999 Shyer would set off on his own directing and producing the 2001 period piece The Affair Of The Necklace starring Hilary Swank, and the 2004 remake of Alfie with Jude Law in the title role of the film written, directed and produced by Shyer. His most recent credits include writing and directing the 2022 Netflix film The Noel Diary. and as co-writer and producer of the 2023 holiday film, Best Christmas Ever!

Earlier writing credits include 1977’s Smokey And The Bandit; 1978’s House Calls which earned him a Best Original Screenplay WGA nomination, and Goin’ South which starred Jack Nicholson. He also shared Story By credit with Meyers and Miller on the 1984 Hawn vehicle, Protocol which had a screenplay credited to Buck Henry.

A Los Angeles native, Shyer was practically born into the business as the son of Lois Delaney and Melville Shyer, a production executive and film director who worked with D.W. Griffith and was one of the founders of the Directors Guild Of America. After going to UCLA he won a DGA apprenticeship but soon segued into writing after becoming an assistant to Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson who were producing the hit TV series, The Odd Couple, later becoming head writer and associate producer.

Survivors include four children inlcuding filmmaker Hallie Meyers-Shyer.

Writer

The Bellinis

Writer

TV Movie

 

Heather Graham, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeño, and Brandy Norwood in Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

Best. Christmas. Ever!

4.4

screenplay by

2023

 

Justin Hartley and Barrett Doss in The Noel Diary (2022)

The Noel Diary

6.2

screenplay by

2022

 

Ieri oggi domani (2011)

Ieri oggi domani

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Writer

2011

 

Jude Law in Alfie (2004)

Alfie

6.2

screenplay

2004

 

Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, and Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap (1998)

The Parent Trap

6.7

screenplay

1998

 

Steve Martin and Kimberly Williams-Paisley in Father of the Bride Part II (1995)

Father of the Bride Part II

6.1

screenplay

1995

 

Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte in I Love Trouble (1994)

I Love Trouble

5.3

written by

1994

 

Once Upon a Crime... (1992)

Once Upon a Crime...

5.8

screenplay

1992

 

Steve Martin and Kimberly Williams-Paisley in Father of the Bride (1991)

Father of the Bride

6.6

screenplay

1991

 

Baby Boom (1988)

Baby Boom

5.7

TV Series

created by

written by (creator)

1988–1989

13 episodes

 

Diane Keaton in Baby Boom (1987)

Baby Boom

6.3

written by

1987

 

Whoopi Goldberg in Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)

Jumpin' Jack Flash

5.9

screenplay (as J.W. Melville)

1986

 

Protocol (1984)

Protocol

5.5

story by

1984

 

Drew Barrymore, Shelley Long, and Ryan O'Neal in Irreconcilable Differences (1984)

Irreconcilable Differences

5.8

written by

1984

 

Private Benjamin (1981)

Private Benjamin

6.1

TV Series

characters

1981

1 episode

 

Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin (1980)

Private Benjamin

6.2

written by

1980

 

Jack Nicholson in Goin' South (1978)

Goin' South

6.2

screenplay

1978

 

Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson in House Calls (1978)

House Calls

6.6

screenplay

1978

 

Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, and Jackie Gleason in Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Smokey and the Bandit

7.0

screenplay by

1977

 

Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross, Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Don Most, and Anson Williams in Happy Days (1974)

Happy Days

7.4

TV Series

written by

1976

1 episode

 

Barbara Feldon in Let's Switch! (1975)

Let's Switch!

6.4

TV Movie

Writer (as Andy Chubby Williams)

1975

 

Valerie Perrine in Lady Luck (1973)

Lady Luck

TV Movie

Writer

1973

 

Getting Together (1971)

Getting Together

7.3

TV Series

developed for television by

written by (creator)

1971–1972

14 episodes

 

Susan Dey, Danny Bonaduce, David Cassidy, Suzanne Crough, Brian Forster, and Shirley Jones in The Partridge Family (1970)

The Partridge Family

6.6

TV Series

written by (as Chuck Shyer)

1971

1 episode

 

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

written by

1971

2 episodes

 

Scoey Mitchell and Tracy Reed in Barefoot in the Park (1970)

Barefoot in the Park

6.8

TV Series

written by

1970

2 episodes

 

Producer

Heather Graham, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeño, and Brandy Norwood in Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

Best. Christmas. Ever!

4.4

executive producer

2023

 

Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish) (2020)

Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish)

6.7

Short

executive producer

2020

 

Ryan Spahn, Ryan O'Nan, Larisa Polonsky, Salome Mulugeta, Vincent Agnello, and Alemtsehay Wedajo in Woven (2016)

Woven

4.9

executive producer

2016

 

How Divine!

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producer

2014

 

Jude Law in Alfie (2004)

Alfie

6.2

producer (produced by)

2004

 

Hilary Swank in The Affair of the Necklace (2001)

The Affair of the Necklace

6.0

producer

2001

 

Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, and Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap (1998)

The Parent Trap

6.7

producer

1998

 

Baby Boom (1988)

Baby Boom

5.7

TV Series

executive producer

1988–1989

13 episodes

 

Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin (1980)

Private Benjamin

6.2

producer

1980

 

Cops

TV Short

producer

1973

 

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

associate producer

1970–1971

24 episodes

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

Reese Witherspoon in Home Again (2017)

Home Again

5.8

second unit director

2017

 

Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, and Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap (1998)

The Parent Trap

6.7

second unit director: USA

1998

 

The Mothers-In-Law (1967)

The Mothers-In-Law

7.2

TV Series

assistant director (as Charles R. Shyer)

1967–1968

32 episodes

 

The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966)

The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming

7.0

second second assistant director (uncredited)

1966